Discuss professional development and the role of the chartered teacher in the TES Scotland Professional Development Group. Find out what forms of CPD other teachers recommend and discuss your career development options with your peers.
Just read this in BBC news report and they are predicting CT to be abolished as no difference can be seen between ordinary class teacher and CT. I resent this as I worked hard on the modules I completed and my pupils (especially ASN pupils) do receive a better quality of teaching from me as a result. Of course if SMT were more supportive and other colleagues less lazy and/or less envious CT would have had more respect (is that the right word?)
They can't remove our enhanced salary can they?
sbfYes they can and will.The whole point of abolishing it is to save money.Hardly fair having a 2 tier teaching system with some employees being awarded significantly increased salaries.That was the argument for removing the conserved salaries, and it easily holds water for CT.Just think of your self like an Orc, that way you won't be disappointed about the way the Government or your employers feel about you. As for McCormac well we all knew what he thought of teachers. I wouldn't even use the report to burn in my fire.
Difference is that CTs have paid money out of their own pocket to do the scheme. Conserved PTs were appointed (some without an interview back in the good old days).
Thanks Freddie.
Well said, Freddie.
jonowen I suggest you pull your neck in and read the report - THEN you will be in a position to comment. You are typical of the lazy and/or envious colleagues I described earlier. I don't know of any CTs (or aspiring CTs) who only do the minimum classroom work, but of course sbf, you will; however, as you probably don't have any idea of CT or the effort involved, I'm not interested in your opinion.
I suggest you pull your neck in and read the report - THEN you will be in a position to comment. You are typical of the lazy and/or envious colleagues I described earlier. I don't know of any CTs (or aspiring CTs) who only do the minimum classroom work, but of course sbf, you will; however, as you probably don't have any idea of CT or the effort involved, I'm not interested in your opinion.
Oh dear that post says much about you.
May be you should re read my post before going off on one.
Freddie92 Difference is that CTs have paid money out of their own pocket to do the scheme. Conserved PTs were appointed (some without an interview back in the good old days).
I have no doubt that plenty of CTs do good work (sorry to burst your bubble jonowen) but its difficult to argue against some of the points in the report make in terms of this area.
Remember these are just recommendations right now, still a long way to go.
Double post Doh.
If only TES was like ever other forum and worked properly.
jonowenJust read this in BBC news report and they are predicting CT to be abolished as no difference can be seen between ordinary class teacher and CT. I resent this as I worked hard on the modules I completed and my pupils (especially ASN pupils) do receive a better quality of teaching from me as a result.
Just read this in BBC news report and they are predicting CT to be abolished as no difference can be seen between ordinary class teacher and CT. I resent this as I worked hard on the modules I completed and my pupils (especially ASN pupils) do receive a better quality of teaching from me as a result.
You have to bear in mind that there are some teachers who work hard on improving their teaching, including doing a lot of research and practical application and self-evaluation, but do it through CPD, as, because of family committments cannot afford neither the time nor money to do the CT modules.
The available evidence does not show that the ‘best’ teachers have remained in the classroom rather than pursuing promoted posts – indeed promoted post holders have commented to us that theirs is a vital role and should not be equated with not wanting to teach or being inferior teachers. Shock horror - some HTs, DHTs and PTs think they are the best teachers!!! Gee whizz!
Local authorities have no means of controlling the cost of the Chartered Teacher Scheme because it is essentially self-selecting. Additional salary is, in some instances, paid to staff for little tangible benefit - Of course this report isn't influenced by the cost cuting regime at all. Hang on a minute, cutting the salaries of CTs on point 6 will save around £1,000,000 a year never mind the folk that are on the route.
sbfShock horror, just maybe some PTs/DHs and HT are the best teachers.I have to say sometimes I get a tad bored of the superior attitude that comes across from some (note I said some not all) CTs
carol75 I'm not saying all CTs are wonderful teachers, but neither are all members of the SMT!
I'm not saying all CTs are wonderful teachers, but neither are all members of the SMT!
Thats a much better way to say it.
" The model by which individuals are able to enter the system without sufficient gate keeping regarding their appropriateness has damaged the credibility of the Chartered Teacher Scheme. Similarly the lack of clarity as to the role of chartered teachers has made it difficult for both local authorities and the teachers themselves to make the most of their skills."
I think that quote from the review sums up the CT scheme and non-CTs frustration with it. I know some outstanding CTs who contribute massively to my school and a number of others who do the same on a regional level and within their own schools elsewhere. However, there are CTs who contribute less to the school than other staff and whose teaching ability is also relatively poor(as is the case in all areas of our proffesion). I am frustrated with the proposed removal, I would of liked to have seen the CT scheme reviewed at least, especially as 75% of respondents wanted to keep it in some form.
I don't think that the idea behind CT was that CTs are the best teachers. The idea was that teachers who done the CT route would become better than they were before starting CT. As for the idea of the best teachers being PT/DHT/HT is that because they were successful at interview because thay are very good at selling themselves or because they are actually good at their job?
DOing some CT modules has definitely improved my teaching. Is that measurable in some way? Proabaly not.
I think that only teachers would complain about colleagues becoming enhanced professionals and receiving financial reward for it. The CT scheme was there for ages and everybody was able to do it so why complain about something you were able to do? I don't complain that my PTC, DHT etc get paid more than me, they went for interview and were successful, well done them. There are the best paid social workers in the country, sorry guidance teachers they are called who seem to get paid a lot. (Last bit was joke, they got the job, well done them.)
its_like_omg The CT scheme was there for ages and everybody was able to do it so why complain about something you were able to do?
The CT scheme was there for ages and everybody was able to do it so why complain about something you were able to do?
Not quite everybody. Those who hadn't reached the top of the pay scale were not eligible, for starters. You also have to consider how many teachers with young families would really be able to afford the time and money to embark upon a degree course. I know that I couldn't. Not on top of a full time job.
It suits those whose families are grown up (or those who have no family committments) and those whose financial situation is flexable. It's not inclusive, IMO. Applications for PT, on the other hand are inclusive, as preparation for promotion can be done through the CPD process within the normal working year with no additional expense to the employee and anyone is entitled to apply for a promoted post.
I don't complain that my PTC, DHT etc get paid more than me, they went for interview and were successful, well done them.
They get paid more for having the extra responsibilities, something a CT does not have.
Ah- but not all local authorities behaved in the same way. before I embarked on CT I'd been a senior teacher- and I was interviewed in 2003 by my HT. I was offered options- stay and take my money for continuing my remit (which no longer existed); accept a substantive PT post; go on the assimilated scale at PT1, or do that and try for CT. I did the latter- with his support.
while I was completing my work based project - I did the modules, my region appointed me as a PGDE tutor with a Uni partnership. I did the first year of a PhD after I got my M.Ed, before my region appointed me to a one day a week secondment supporting CfE.
My region has a CDO of CPD who is a CT-
Am I a better classroom teacher? I used to think so- but age is slowing me down- my worries are that the loss of that hard earned money, together with increased pension contributions etc, mean I'll be limping on for another 15 years at least-
The media has a lot to answer for- teacher bashing and Government invective over public sector pensions have cost us the support of the public. McCormac is now dividing us - beware
Dear jmpa169,
Like you I was a Senior Teacher and was interviewed by my HT - except that my authority didn't give us the option to be PTs (which would have been my preferred option). Instead I was told to proceed along the CT route which involved me in a LOT of work and expense, as, even though I assimilated to Point 3 of CT, I had to do Modules 1 and 2 (plus I did a free pilot module on thinking skills) then I submitted a 10,000 word claim for accreditation of university modules with 100 pieces of evidence. Only after this was given 6 modules - meaning I ended up with 9 - did I get any increase, as I was already on Point 3. I then did a Master's Degree, which meant that I spent hours and hours ploughing away at this after school and at weekends, plus most of my summer "holidays".
My school has benefitted hugely from the Action Plan drawn up as a result. It involves me in a lot of extra work, but parents are more involved and pupil exam results have improved hugely. I'm also on the committee of the Greater Glasgow Chartered Teacher Planning Group, which meets after school and we've organised a CT wiki, plus held three highly successful twilight CPD events. As well as this, I'm on the Committee of ACTS (Association of Chartered Teachers Scotland), which meets on Saturdays all over Scotland. We organise a highly successful annual conference, as well as teachers as researcher events. In addition we were asked to give evidence to the McCormac Review and several of us spent a lot of our own time gathering evidence of good practice by CTs from all over Scotland, going over this and making a case to the Review Team. Unfortunately they chose to listen to ADES, SLS and COSLA.
We should not be fighting amongst ourselves at this time. The conditions of ALL teachers are under attack and we need to fight not just to retain CT, which is an alternative career route for classroom teachers and a means of enhancing professionalism, but the pay and conditions of ALL teachers. You are right to warn us to beware of McCormac dividing us.
If you want to help to retain CT then join ACTS (Association of Chartered Teachers Scotland) and/or come to the meeting at Stirling Management Centre on the morning of Saturday 8th October (email actscotland@yahoo.co.uk - if not .co.uk then it's .com) Goggle ACTS and go on to the website, follow links to join ACTS. It's only £25 a year if you're fully chartered and £15 if you're on the route and you get a newsletter, entry to the annual conference and teachers as researchers and social events.
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